Johnson returns and breaks into 200 club

Mitchell Johnson's personal satisfaction at taking a long-awaited 200th Test wicket on Boxing Day was trumped by the Australian attack's effort in adjusting to the brave new world of rotations.

Johnson has been both a beneficiary and a casualty of the contentious rest and rotation policy in recent weeks - recalled when Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus were rested against South Africa in Perth, and dropped for the Hobart Test against Sri Lanka despite making a successful comeback at the WACA Ground.

Back again for Boxing Day, the rejuvenated 31-year-old reminded the cricket world of his capacity to take wickets, leak runs and break bones all at the same time, while his namesake Mitchell Starc sat on the bench at the MCG.

He also made it difficult for the selectors to leave him out again with an aggressive performance that produced 4-63, including a couple of brutish bouncers that took him to the brink of a hat trick, and his 200th Test scalp.

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''It's great having personal milestones. To be in the 200 club, I'm very happy about that,'' he said. Australia dismissed Sri Lanka for 156 and had almost drawn level by stumps at 3-150.

''But in the end it's the way we performed today as a group. There's been talk with rotation systems and all that, so to bowl as a group - obviously Peter Siddle has been around the Test series and it was Jackson Bird's first game and I have been in and out. It's good to perform as a unit because it can be tough at times when you're chopping and changing but I think we have become a better side at the moment. We're used to doing that, and we've got those options there.''

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The Mitch switch did not hurt Australia on the opening day at the MCG, as much as it might have hurt Starc, whose enforced rest relegated him to spectator as Johnson and Bird took the new ball. Bird performed a vital containment role while Johnson attacked, defeating Tillakaratne Dilshan with an inswinger.

Later, Johnson's vicious short deliveries to dismiss Prasanna Jayawardene and Dhammika Prasad in consecutive balls proved the turning point, and Sri Lanka toppled to its second-lowest first innings total in Australia.

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Jayawardene gloved a catch to third slip and went straight to hospital, where the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper was diagnosed with a hairline fracture of the thumb. The hat-trick ball was a no-ball, but still a significant moment for Johnson as it has been a while since he has felt the love of a big crowd.

''The crowd was unbelievable. I actually almost pulled up during my run-up because I was about to smile,'' Johnson said. ''I couldn't concentrate so I was just thinking to myself, stay smooth and relaxed.

''I ended up bowling a no-ball but it didn't matter in the end, I didn't get him out anyway.

''Peter Siddle said to me that when he was on his hat trick in Brisbane the crowd wasn't anywhere near as loud as it was today, and we both had goosebumps on our arms.''

Johnson won't be fully redeemed, at least in English eyes, unless he cements his position and performs in the Ashes. However, his haul carried him into a select group of seven Australians who have taken 200 wickets and made 1000 runs.